Ink pad



Oct. 7, 1941. J. M. MILLER 2,258,501

INK PAD Filed May 29, 1939 28 nzfEF-f.' 23 35017217.7172? ZET.

@W XM f7 H2727,

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT y OFFICE INK PAD Jacob M. Miller, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 27 6,293

(Cl. ill-54.5)

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ink pads and has particular reference to an ink pad used in the linger-printing art for applying ink to the fingers of a person whose finger-prints it is desired to record.

Heretofore the application of ink to the fingers has been a serious problem. The ink must be applied evenly over the area to be printed so as to get good prints. The best previous method. has been to apply ink to a flat glass or metal slab and then to distribute the ink evenly over the surface by means of a roller which is passed over the surface. The fingers were then placed upon the inked surface of the slab to acquire a sufficient amount of ink to record the prints of the subject upon a recording chart.v y

This method provided fairly satisfactory results but had many undesirable characteristics when put into actual practice. It was necessary to thoroughly clean the slab and roller each time prints were made. This was very messy and bothersome. The necessity of preparing the ink slab for use consumed much time which made the taking of finger-prints a comparatively 'slowl process. The technique of making inked imquired -a skillful manipulator because of the great care necessary to acquire usable prints.

My invention obviates the above diiculties and makes the taking of prints a much quicker and easier task. The practical efliciency and `usefulness of the device is evidenced by its acceptance by the trade.

An object of my invention is to produce an ink pad for use particularly in making `finger-prints which is clean and immediately ready for use.

A further object of my invention is to produce an ink pad which is readily portable and available for use over an extended period of time, on one supply of ink. q y

A further object of my invention is to produce a device capable of facilitating the making of good, clean cut impressions which show no weave pattern or fuzz in the ridges,r

Other objects and advantages i will become apparent in .the following description.

In the accompanying drawing like reference characters in the several views designate like parts; and 1 1 Fig. 1 is a plan View orf-the base of my ink pad with the cover removed;

Fig 2 is a view, partlysectional, of my ink` pad;

Fig. 3 is a `plan view` with `some of the parts broken away; and f Y Fig. 4 is a sectional View along the line 4--4 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing comprises a base II composed in this rexample of v wood, provided with longitudinal strips I2 which protrude upwardly from the base II in such a position as to provide flanges I3. End portions I4 are provided and secured to the base I I within the -connes of the longitudinal strips I 2 by any suitable means such as glue or by the use of screws which may pass thru the orifices I5 and engage the base II. The strips I2 and end pieces I4 areof substantially the same height and form a`hollowed out portion in which the inking slab fis inserted and secu-red.

The ink slab I6 may Vbe composed of any smooth, hard, fiat material such aswcod or the like. A piece of material Il' impervious to liquids and especially to ink isfastened to the wood block or ink slab I6. This material'Il covers the entire upper and side surfaces of the block I6. Over the waterproof material I'I is placed a piece of woven material I8 having a very smooth and even texture such as silk or a similar fabric. The silk I 8 is stretched very tightly across the upper surface of the slab and fastened in place by a piece of strong materialilgwhichis glued to the bottom of I'Jhe block I6 and the ends of the silk I3. Screws 39 pass thru the block II and enter 0 the slab I6 to secure the slab I6`in place in the hollowed out portion formed by the strips I2 and end pieces I4. The slab I6 is somewhat thicker than the height of the strips I2 and end pieces I4 and therefore extends above the upper surface of the strips I2 and end pieces I4.

A cover 20 is provided with downwardly extending portions or legs'2I which are of a size and spacing to contact the flanges I3 of the bottom member when pressure is applied to the cover. The inside facel 22 of the legs 2'I is slanting at the same angle as the outside face 23 of the strips I2' so that normally they are parallel to each other and slightly separated.

The inside surface 24 ofthe cover 20 is slightly concave and the upper surface 25 of the slab I6 is slightly convex. The two surfaces are concentric so as to counteract any tendency of the middle of the block II to sag after extended usage. The actual arc in practice is notas great as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing which has been slightly exaggerated. Longitudinal grooves 25 are provided in the cover 28 `to provide a gripping surf-ace for the fingers ofthe operator.

A strip of absorbent material 2T such as felt or the like is'shaped'to fit within the shoulder PI i l y' i 2,258,501

surface 24 in any suitable manner such as by 5 gluing.

In using the device the operator rst applies ink to the reservoir by means of a brush. It should be applied over the entire surface of the pad although this is not absolutely necessary. lo

The cover 20 Ais then placed on the bottom portion and normally the only contacting surfaces will be the felt pad 21 and the silk I8. A certain amount of ink will of course be transferred from the reservoir 21 to the silk I 8. However when the .#5

operator desires to use the device .for making fingerprints he will grasp the cover 20 between the fingers by means of the grooves 26 and apply pressure thereto.

The various parts of the device are so shaped 20 and ofva lcertain sizeso lthat the application of pressure to the cover '20 zcauses the parallel angle faces .-22 and 23 toengage eachother; and the edges 29-of'legs 2| .engage the ,shoulders I-. The

cover 2B is then moved longitudinally back and ,25 forth several times Yand this movement causes the proper lamountof :ink to be'transferred from the reservoir tothe silk I8. The shoulders I3 are engaged by the fedges of thefstrips 2I and Vthese parts .are proportioned :so that only a certainuzo amount 4of pressure .can .be vlapplied .to .the cover. The inking process zcannot therefore .be spoiled by the application of too much pressure. The sliding movementzdistributesthe inkevenly over the surface ofthepad .andthe subjects iingersljri.y

when applied to .thepad will acquire 'the `proper amount of ink whichwill be distributed .so as to give perfect impressions which will be yfree of all weave pattern landfnotfuzzy inthe ridges,

`A single application of ink -to the reservoireio will permitas many as forty sets of ten iinger prints to vbe made. The fpaddoes not have to be cleaned each time itis used; it can be-put away for future use withoutcleaning. It is not necessary to roll ink on 'a slab for -each set of prints-a5 it is desired to obtain asthe padis immediately ready 'for use 'at any-time.

While I have described :a preferred embodiment ofmy invention,.`I do :not desire to be confined to the 'structure:shown'and'described but to-have my-f" T50 invention defined `bythe spirit and scope .of the appended claims.

Having described'my invention, what 'I claim and desire to 'secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the `characterdescribed compris- F55 ing a base member, -a hollowedfout portion in 'said base, a slab-fitted within-said hollowportion, material impervious to .liquids for 'covering said slab, '-a second material vhaving va smooth even surface located 'overzsaid .first material, a cover-3360 slidable over lsaid base member, means for Yguiding said cover during movement, and an absorbent material secured in said cover.

2. An ink padcomprising a'base member, an inkl ing slab 'Secured in's'aid base, a woven material 65 over said slab, Va `cover member slidable over said basemembenmeans for guiding saidfcover during movement, and 'an :absorbent material fin said cover forming anink reservoir.

3. An ink pad comprising an linking slab, fa l70 f4. An vink pad'comprising "an'zinkingslab, an 75 ink impervious material over said slab, a Woven material over said slab, a cover member slidable over said inking slab, means for guiding said cover during movement, and an absorbent material in said cover forming yan ink reservoir.

5. An ink pad comprising an inking slab, a silk like material stretched tightly over said slab, a cover member slidable on said slab, means for guiding said cover during movement, and an absorbent material secured vto said cover.

6. An ink pad comprising an vinking slab, a fabric covering said slab, a cover member slidable over said slab, means secured in said cover for storing ink and for evenly applying said ink to said slab, and means for guiding said cover on said slab during said distribution.

7. A device of the character described comprisingaibase member, upwardly extending strips thereon, a block member fitted between said strips comprising :an inking slab, a cover having de- ;pending-Stripsnand .slidable on said member, an

ink reservoir .fitted between.- said strips, \said .reservoir-being of a thickness to normally separate ,said upwardly and downwardly vextending strips when said cover is placed von said inking slab, said .upwardly and downwardly extending sorbent material forming anink reservoir in said cover and arranged to engagesaid fabric when Vthe-coverisiinplace.

9. .Adevice of the character described including a Vbase member, upwardly :extending :strips thereon,l a slab fittedbetween said strips, a fabric stretched :over :said slab, a cover having depending strips slidable on Y-said -base member, :said strips actingfas guiding means, an absorbent material in 'said cover adapted .to engage the-said Yfabric when the* cover is Iin=pla.ce.

10. A devicefof 1the character-described Vincluding a base member, -upwardly yextending 4strips thereon, a slab fitted-between saidstrips, a fabric stretched overisaidfslab, `a coverhaving depending strips slidable on said 'base member, 'said strips actingras guiding means, an'absorbent'material in said cover :adapted to engage the said fabric when the cover ist in place, -said depending strips and upwardly extending strips adapted to co-act to limit the coverto rlongitudinal movement-over the base member. Y

1l. In a device-of thecharacter described in cluding a .base member, .longitudinal strips on each side thereof, en'd piecessecuredto-said base, said strips and end pieces forming'a hollow, a slab of wood secured in .said hollow, a liquid .impervious material .covering said slab, a smooth surfaced fabric covering said material, Aa cover member slidable on said 'base' member, depending legs on said A'cover member, vsaid legs being spaced slightly morethan said longitudinal strips and coacting therewith to guide said cover during movement, and an absorbent material in said cover.

V12. In a device ofthe character described including-a slab having its upper :surface slightly arched, a cover having litsinnersurface formed on `an-arc concentric-with 'thelupper surface of Vsaid slab, 'said pover `beingmovable.on saidslab,

means for guiding said cover pntsaid rslabidiiring movement, and an absorbent material on said curved surface of said cover.A

13. In a device of the character described including a slab having its upper surface slightly arched, a fabric covering said slab, 'said fabric being impervious to ink, a second fabric over said first fabric, a cover having its inner surface arched, said cover being movable on said slab, means for guiding said cover on said slab during movement, and an absorbent material on Said inner surface of said cover.

14. In sa device of the character described including an inking slab, a cover for said slab, an absorbent material in said cover acting as an ink reservoir, said cover being slidable on said slab, and means for guiding said cover on said slab during movement.

Cil

15. In a device of the character described including an inking slab, a cover for said slab, an absorbent material in said cover acting as an ink reservoir, said cover being slidable on said slab, and means for guiding said cover on said slab during movement, and means for preventing an excessive downward movement of said cover.

16. A device of the character described comprising a slab, a cover member, an ink reservoir in said cover, said cover being longitudinally movable on said slab to evenly distribute ink from the reservoir over the slab, and means for guiding said cover on said slab during movement.

JACOB M. MILLER. 

